Gut Microbiota-Associated Activation of TLR5 Induces Apolipoprotein A1 Production in the Liver.

Rationale: Dysbiosis of gut microbiota plays an important role in cardiovascular diseases but the molecular mechanisms are complex. An association between gut microbiome and the variance in HDL-C (high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol) level was suggested in a human study. Besides, dietary fat was shown to increase both HDL-C and LDL-C (low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol) levels.

Joint trajectories of disease activity, and physical and mental health-related quality of life in an inception lupus cohort.

Objectives: To examine for latent patterns of SLE disease activity trajectories that associate with specific latent patterns of health-related quality of life (HRQoL; Medical Outcomes Study Short Form-36), and to determine baseline predictors of class membership.

Methods: In this retrospective longitudinal inception cohort of 222 SLE adults over 10 years, trajectories of three outcomes were studied jointly: Short Form-36 physical (PCS) and mental (MCS) component summaries and adjusted mean SLEDAI-2000 (AMS). Group-based joint trajectory modelling was used to model latent classes; univariable and multivariable analyses were used to identify predictors of class membership.

Prevalence and metric of depression and anxiety in systemic lupus erythematosus: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Objectives: To systematically review and synthesize literature on 1) the overall prevalence of depression and anxiety in SLE patients in identified studies, and 2) the pooled prevalence per metrics of depression and anxiety in adult SLE patients.

Methods: This review used (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) PRISMA guidelines and in-depth searches in four databases (1954-2016; Ovid-based Medline, Embase, PsycINFO and CINAHL) to identify articles on the prevalence of depression and/or anxiety in adult SLE patients. Included studies were critically appraised and analyzed.

Predictors of Good Long-Term Renal Outcomes in Lupus Nephritis: Results from a Single Lupus Cohort.

This study aims to elucidate the predictive capabilities of proteinuria, serum creatinine (Cr), and urine RBCs (uRBCs) with respect to long-term renal outcomes in lupus nephritis (LN) in patients followed in clinic. . A retrospective analysis was performed on patients with LN.

Effect of complete or partial proteinuria recovery on long-term outcomes of lupus nephritis.

Background/purpose: We aimed to evaluate the effect of complete recovery (CR), partial recovery (PR), and no recovery (NR) of proteinuria at 2 years from the diagnosis of LN on long-term renal and extra-renal outcomes.

Methods: Patients with LN and proteinuria attending the Lupus Center from 1970 to 2015 were analyzed. At 2 years from diagnosis of LN, patients were divided into three groups (CR, PR, and NR), and long-term outcomes were studied up to 15 years or last visit available.

Effect of governmental intervention on appropriateness of lumbar MRI referrals: a Canadian experience.

Purpose: In 2012, the Ontario government attempted to reduce inappropriate lumbar MRI referrals through guideline and decision-aid distributions to physicians as well as threats of financial penalties. The goals of this study were to determine if any change in lumbar MRI referral appropriateness occurred after this policy change at a tertiary care hospital in Ontario and to determine if any change in the number of new lumbar MRI referrals occurred after the policy change.

Methods: Six hundred lumbar MRI referral forms were randomly selected; 300 before and 300 after the policy change.

Copy number and expression alterations of miRNAs in the ovarian cancer cell line OVCAR-3: impact on kallikrein 6 protein expression.

Background: Kallikrein-related peptidase 6 (KLK6), a member of the serine protease family of kallikrein (KLK) genes, is dysregulated in ovarian carcinomas (OCa) and its overexpression is associated with poor prognosis. Regulation of its expression is poorly understood and is likely to be influenced by multiple mechanisms. The KLK locus is subject to copy number changes and heterogeneity in serous OCas.